Clothing strap retention device with enhanced torsional support and marking surface

ABSTRACT

A clothing strap retention device, or “holder,” in accordance with the techniques of the present disclosure enables a user to retain multiple shoulder or equivalent straps of a clothing garment proximate to one another at a region along the length of the straps. As a result, the effective length of the straps is reduced and the movement of the straps is restricted, thereby lifting up the garment and providing a better, more comfortable fit. Specifically, the holder includes a planar central portion having an equidimensional geometry that provides structural integrity to the holder, thereby enabling it to withstand torsional forces and prevent or reduce distortion such as twisting and warping. Additionally, the central portion includes a surface suitable for one or more of printing, embossing, and attaching an adhesive label to include any combination of text and graphical content for use in any of product marking, ornamental design, and advertisement.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/907,914 filed Jun. 1, 2013.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to clothing garment accessories and, more particularly, to devices used to retain multiple shoulder straps, or similar straps, of a clothing garment within close proximity to one another to provide a better, more comfortable fit of the garment to its wearer.

BACKGROUND

A clothing strap retention device may be used by a wearer of a clothing garment, such as a strapped shirt, dress, swimsuit, brassiere, or another strapped garment, to retain two or more shoulder straps, or similar straps, of the garment within close proximity to one another. As a result, the clothing strap retention device may restrict the movement of the straps and thus provide the wearer with a more comfortable fit of the garment. In one example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,278,900, a particular clothing strap retention device referred to as a “bra strap holder” enables a wearer of a brassiere to retain two straps of the brassiere within close proximity to one another, thereby preventing the straps from falling from the wearer's shoulders.

SUMMARY

In general, the techniques of this disclosure are directed to a clothing strap retention device, or “holder,” that can be used by a wearer of a clothing garment to retain two or more shoulder straps, or similar straps, of the garment within close proximity to one another. For example, the clothing strap holder as described herein can be used to retain the straps within close proximity to one another at a particular region along the length of the straps. As a result, the clothing strap holder can be used to decrease the effective length of the straps and restrict their movement, thereby providing a better, more comfortable fit of the garment to the wearer. Furthermore, the clothing strap holder consistent with the disclosed techniques includes a planar central portion having a substantially equidimensional geometry that may provide enhanced structural integrity, such as increased torsional support, to the clothing strap holder, thereby preventing or reducing twisting, warping, or other distortion of the clothing strap holder during its use. Additionally, the clothing strap holder according to the techniques presented herein may, by virtue of having the above-described planar central portion, further provide a surface suitable for one or more of printing, embossing, and attaching an adhesive label to include any combination of text and graphical content. As a result, the surface of the planar central portion of the clothing strap holder can be used in any of product marking, ornamental design, and advertisement associated with the clothing strap holder. Moreover, the present disclosure also contemplates various manufacturing and processing techniques and materials that may be used in conjunction with fabrication of the clothing strap holder as described herein.

In one example, a clothing strap holder includes a planar central portion having a substantially equidimensional geometry, and first and second elongate side portions disposed at opposite ends of the planar central portion. In this example, each of the first and second elongate side portions extends outwardly from the corresponding one of the opposite ends of the planar central portion, thereby defining two slots between the respective elongate side portion and the planar central portion. Also in this example, the planar central portion and the first and second elongate side portions are disposed substantially within a common plane.

The details of one or more examples consistent with the techniques of the present disclosure are set forth in the description provided below and in the accompanying drawings. Other features, objects, and advantages of the techniques described herein will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims also set forth below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram that illustrates an example of a clothing strap holder, consistent with the techniques of this disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram that illustrates a perspective view of the example clothing strap holder of FIG. 1, consistent with the techniques of this disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram that illustrates another example of a clothing strap holder that is similar to the clothing strap holder of FIG. 1 and that includes a planar central portion having a two-dimensional (2-D) decorative “heart-shaped” geometry, consistent with the techniques of this disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram that illustrates another example of a clothing strap holder that includes a planar central portion having a 2-D multi-point “star-shaped” geometry, consistent with the techniques of this disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram that illustrates another example of a clothing strap holder that includes a planar central portion having a 2-D multi-point “crown-shaped” geometry, consistent with the techniques of this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, the techniques of this disclosure are directed to a clothing strap retention device, or “holder,” that can be used by a wearer of a clothing garment, such as a strapped shirt, dress, swimsuit, brassiere, or another strapped clothing garment, to retain two or more shoulder straps, or similar straps, of the garment within close proximity to one another. For example, the clothing strap holder of the described techniques can be used to retain the straps within close proximity to one another at a particular region (e.g., at a single point, or at a series or range of points) along the length of the straps. As a result, the clothing strap holder can be used to decrease the effective length of the straps and restrict their movement, thereby providing a better, more comfortable fit of the garment to the wearer. Additionally, the clothing strap holder consistent with the techniques described herein includes a planar central portion having a substantially equidimensional geometry that may provide enhanced structural integrity, such as increased torsional support, to the holder, thereby preventing or reducing twisting, warping, or other distortion of the holder during its use. Furthermore, the clothing strap holder according to the disclosed techniques may, by virtue of including the planar central portion having the substantially equidimensional geometry, provide a surface that is suitable for one or more of printing, embossing, and attaching an adhesive label to include any combination of text and graphical content. As a result, the surface can be used in any of product marking, ornamental design, and advertisement associated with the clothing strap holder. Moreover, the present disclosure also contemplates various manufacturing and processing techniques and materials that can be used in conjunction with fabrication of the clothing strap holder as described herein.

In this disclosure, the term “planar” refers to any component, element, member, or portion of the clothing strap holder according to the techniques described herein that is substantially two-dimensional (2-D), meaning that the component, element, member, or portion has two dimensions (e.g., a length and a width) that are each substantially larger than a third dimension (e.g., a height, or thickness) of the component, element, member, or portion. Stated another way, planar, as used herein, refers to any such component, element, member, or portion of the clothing strap holder that lies substantially in a 2-D plane and thus is 2-D in character, having a relatively larger length and width, or equivalent dimensions, compared to a height, or thickness, of the component, element, member, or portion.

Additionally, in this disclosure, the term “equidimensional” refers to any component, element, member, or portion of the clothing strap holder according to the described techniques that includes two dimensions (e.g., a length and a width) that are substantially equal in size. Specifically, equidimensional in the context of the present disclosure refers to any such component, element, member, or portion that has one dimension, such as, e.g., a length, that is substantially equal in size to another dimension of the component, element, member, or portion, such as, e.g., a width. In general, however, in this disclosure, equidimensional refers to any such component, element, member, or portion as having a substantially non-elongate geometry, but rather one of a substantially rectangular (e.g., square) geometry, a substantially triangular geometry, a substantially circular geometry, and a substantially oval geometry, as merely some examples. Additionally, as further illustrated by the examples provided below with reference to FIGS. 1-5, in some examples, a substantially equidimensional planar central portion of the clothing strap holder described in this disclosure may refer to the planar central portion having one of a 2-D decorative “heart-shaped” geometry, a 2-D multi-point “star-shaped” geometry, a 2-D multi-point “crown-shaped” geometry, as well as any one of similar or equivalent geometries.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram that illustrates an example of a clothing strap holder 100, consistent with the techniques of this disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, clothing strap holder 100 includes a planar central portion 102 (depicted as having a substantially equidimensional geometry, as will be described in greater detail below), and a first elongate side portion 104A and a second elongate side portion 104B disposed at a first opposite end 106A and a second opposite end 106B, respectively, of planar central portion 102, thereby defining or forming a first slot 108A, a second slot 108B, a third slot 108C, and a fourth slot 108D. Specifically, first elongate side portion 104A is disposed at first opposite end 106A, and second elongate side portion 104B is disposed at second opposite end 106B. FIG. 1 further depicts a first end portion 110A, a second end portion 110B, a third end portion 110C, and a fourth end portion 110D disposed at opposite ends of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B. Additionally, as also shown in FIG. 1, clothing strap holder 100 is depicted along with clothing straps 112A and 112B. In the example of FIG. 1, clothing straps 112A, 112B may be a part of any clothing garment, such as any of a strapped shirt, dress, swimsuit, brassiere, or another strapped garment, in a similar manner as described above. As shown in FIG. 1, each of clothing straps 112A, 112B extends through two of the above-described first, second, third, and fourth slots 108A-108D defined or formed by first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B and planar central portion 102. In other examples, clothing straps 112A, 112B may extend through first, second, third, and fourth slots 110A-110D in a different manner than that shown in FIG. 1, such as, e.g., by extending over a front, or top surface of planar central portion 102 and over rear, or bottom surfaces of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B. Additionally, clothing straps 112A, 112B and clothing strap holder 100 may be horizontally, rather than vertically oriented, in still other examples.

Notably, as illustrated by the example of FIG. 1, rather than including, e.g., an elongate central portion, which may require relatively less material and possibly simplify manufacturing or assembly, clothing strap holder 100 of FIG. 1 includes planar central portion 102 that is substantially planar and has a substantially equidimensional geometry. One advantage of the above-described features is that planar central portion 102, in conjunction with first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B, may provide enhanced structural integrity to clothing strap holder 100. For instance, because planar central portion 102 attaches to or joins first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B at multiple points (i.e., at relatively broad ranges of points by virtue of planar central portion 102 being substantially as long as it is wide) of contact along corresponding edges and surfaces of first and second opposite ends 106A, 106B and first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B, as illustrated in FIG. 1, clothing strap holder 100 is relatively more resistant to torsional forces that may be applied to first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B relative to planar central portion 102. For example, because of the above-described geometry of planar central portion 102, clothing strap holder 100 may withstand relatively greater torsional forces applied (e.g., via clothing straps 112A, 112B) to one or more of end portions 110A-110D of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B angularly with respect to an axis defined by a length of planar central portion 102 extending between first and second opposite sides 106A, 106B. As a result, clothing strap holder 100 as disclosed herein may prevent or reduce the amount of twisting, warping, or other distortion that may result from the use of clothing strap holder 100 by a wearer, thereby retaining the shape of clothing strap holder 100 and thus keeping clothing straps 112A, 112B in a substantially same position over time, as well as potentially extending the functional life of clothing strap holder 100.

Another advantage of clothing strap holder 100 consistent with the techniques of this disclosure is the availability of the above-described surface (or multiple surfaces, as described below with reference to FIG. 2) on planar central portion 102 by virtue of planar central portion 102 having a substantially planar and a substantially equidimensional geometry. In particular, planar central portion 102 may, by virtue of its geometry, provide one or two surfaces each with sufficient surface area to enable one or more of printing, embossing, and attaching an adhesive label to planar central portion 102. As a result, clothing strap holder 100, and, more specifically, planar central portion 102, may be used to include any combination of text and graphical content for use in any of product marking, ornamental design, and advertisement. Stated another way, planar central portion 102 of clothing strap holder 100 may be used for purposes of marking clothing strap holder 100 with various content (e.g., information identifying one or more manufacturers, trade names, patent pending statuses or issuance notices, trademarks, copyrights, and so forth), as well as any type of other information, such as advertisements or decorative designs. Moreover, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, the geometry of planar central portion 102 may itself serve various decorative functions within clothing strap holder 100, in addition to the functional aspects relating to providing structural integrity and a marking surface, as already described above.

Additionally, consistent with the techniques of this disclosure, clothing strap holder 100 of FIG. 1, as well as any components, elements, or portions thereof, alone or in any combination, may be implemented using any of a wide variety of suitable manufacturing and processing techniques and materials. For instance, clothing strap holder 100, including any components, elements, members, or portions thereof, may be manufactured using one or more of molding, extrusion, machining, milling, etching, and rapid prototyping techniques as applied to any kind of materials or compounds. Additionally, any components, elements, or portions of clothing strap holder 100 may be manufactured together (e.g., using a single piece of material) or independently and be subsequently assembled using any of a wide variety of suitable assembly techniques and materials, such as any of a number of adhesives and fasteners.

As described above, in some examples, clothing strap holder 100 of FIG. 1 may include planar central portion 102 having a substantially equidimensional geometry. As previously explained, in the context of this disclosure, planar central portion 102 having a substantially equidimensional geometry refers to planar central portion 102 having one of its dimensions (e.g., a length) within a plane of planar central portion 102 (i.e., within a plane defined by relatively larger length and width of planar central portion 102 and orthogonal to a relatively smaller height, or “thickness,” of planar central portion 102) being approximately equal in size to another one of its dimensions (e.g., a width) also within the plane of planar central portion 102. In other words, according to the techniques of the present disclosure, planar central portion 102 having a substantially equidimensional geometry refers to planar central portion 102 being substantially as wide as it is long within the plane of planar central portion 102.

As also described above, in these examples, clothing strap holder 100 may further include first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B being disposed at first and second opposite ends 106A, 106B, respectively, of planar central portion 102, wherein each of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B extends outwardly from the corresponding one of first and second opposite ends 106A, 106B, thereby defining the corresponding two of first, second, third, and fourth slots 108A-108D between the respective one of first and second elongate side portion 104A, 104B and planar central portion 102. In particular, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the two slots defined or formed by each of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B in conjunction with planar central portion 102 in this manner are located along an inner edge of the respective one of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B joining planar central portion 102 at the corresponding one of first and second opposite ends 106A, 106B, with one of the slots being located above planar central portion 102, and another one of the slots being located below planar central portion 102.

As also previously described, in these examples, planar central portion 102 and first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B may be disposed substantially within a common plane. In other examples, however, one or more of planar central portion 102 and first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B may be disposed substantially within a different plane with respect to another one or more of planar central portion 102 and first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B.

In other examples, each of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B may include two end portions (i.e., the corresponding two of first, second, third, and fourth end portions 110A-110D) disposed at opposite ends of the respective one of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B. In these examples, an end portion of one of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B may extend inwardly relative to clothing strap holder 100 toward an end portion of another one of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B, as already described above.

In still other examples, each of one or more of first, second, third, and fourth end portions 110A-110D, or simply “ends,” of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B may include a terminal portion disposed thereupon. In these examples, each terminal portion may have a width that is greater than a width of the corresponding one of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B. In some examples, such as that of FIG. 1, a given terminal portion may have a substantially circular geometry. In other examples, however, a given terminal portion may have a different geometry, such as an oval or spherical geometry. In any case, one or more of first, second, third, and fourth end portions 110A-110D each having such a terminal portion disposed thereon that is generally wider than the corresponding one of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B may enable better, more consistent retention of clothing straps by clothing strap holder 100 by further modifying the geometry of, or “narrowing,” the corresponding ones of first, second, third, and fourth slots 108A-108D.

In other examples, each of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B may be a substantially planar elongate side portion having a particular thickness. In such examples, a thickness of planar central portion 102 may be greater than the thickness of each of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B. Also in these examples, each of the first and second elongate side portions may form at least a part of the corresponding one of first and second opposite ends 106A, 106B of planar central portion 102, which may result in clothing strap holder 100 having enhanced structural integrity, as described in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 2. In this manner, in some examples, any of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B may have a substantially planar geometry. In other examples, however, any of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B may have a different, non-planar geometry, such as a rod-like geometry, e.g., resulting in any of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B having a rectangular, triangular, circular, oval, or other cross-sectional geometry).

In some examples, planar central portion 102 may include one or more of the following: (1) a substantially rectangular geometry; (2) a substantially triangular geometry; (3) a substantially circular geometry; (4) a substantially oval geometry; (5) a substantially 2-D decorative “heart-shaped” geometry; (6) a substantially 2-D multi-point “star-shaped” geometry; and (7) a substantially 2-D multi-point “crown-shaped” geometry. In other examples, planar central portion 102 may include any combination of the above-described geometries, as well any combination of similar or equivalent geometries that result in planar central portion 102 having a substantially equidimensional geometry as described above.

In other examples, planar central portion 102 may define or form a surface, such as a substantially planar surface, a “grooved” or otherwise textured surface, or any combination thereof, that includes one or more of the following: (1) printed text; (2) printed one or more graphics; (3) embossed text; (4) embossed one or more graphics; and (5) one or more attached adhesive labels.

In still other examples, clothing strap holder 100 of FIG. 1 may include any combination of the features described above, including any number of the above-described features in addition to planar central portion 102 having a substantially equidimensional geometry and first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B being disposed at first and second opposite ends 106A, 106B of planar central portion 102. As explained above, each of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B may extend outwardly from (e.g., be substantially tangential with respect to and substantially centered about) the corresponding one of first and second opposite ends 106A, 106B, thereby defining or forming the corresponding ones (i.e., two) of slots 108A-108D between the respective one of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B and planar central portion 102. As also explained above, planar central portion 102 and first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B may be disposed substantially within a common plane. However, clothing strap holder 100 according to this example may further include the following combination of features.

Firstly, in this example, each of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B may include the corresponding ones (i.e., two) of first, second, third, and fourth end portions 110A-110D disposed at opposite ends of the respective one of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B. In this example, at least one of first, second, third, and fourth end portions 110A-110D of one of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B (e.g., first end portion 110A of first elongate side portion 104A) may extend inwardly relative to clothing strap holder 100 toward another one of first, second, third, and fourth end portions 110A-110D of another one of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B (e.g., second end portion 110B of second elongate side portion 104B).

In this manner, each of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B effectively may define or form a pair of two so-called “prongs” that extend outwardly and in substantially opposite directions relative to one another from the corresponding one of first and second opposite ends 106A, 106B, thereby defining the corresponding ones (i.e., two) of slots 108A-108D between the respective one of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B and planar central portion 102, in the manner described above. Additionally, at least one such prong of one of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B may further extend inwardly, e.g., by virtue of the relevant portion of the corresponding one of first and second elongate side portion 104A, 104B curving, bending, or extending in a straight line, toward another such prong of another one of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B, also in the manner described above.

Furthermore, also in this example, one or more of first, second, third, and fourth end portions 110A-110D each may include a terminal portion disposed thereon. In this example, the terminal portion may have a width that is greater than a width of the corresponding one of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B. As illustrated in FIG. 1, each of first, second, third, and fourth end portions 110A-110D includes a substantially circular portion that is diametrically wider (i.e., has a greater diameter, or width) than the corresponding one of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B, in a manner consistent with the above-described example. In other examples, one or more of first, second, third, and fourth end portions 110A-110D each may include a terminal portion having a different geometry. In any case, as previously explained, one or more of first, second, third, and fourth end portions 110A-110D each having a terminal portion disposed thereon that is generally wider than the corresponding one of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B may enable better, more consistent retention of clothing straps by clothing strap holder 100.

Additionally, also in this example, each of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B may be a substantially planar elongate side portion having a particular thickness. In this example, a thickness of planar central portion 102 may be greater than the thickness of each of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B. As a result, first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B may each form at least a part of, or be wholly or partially enclosed within or surrounded by, the corresponding one of first and second opposite ends 106A, 106B of planar central portion 102. In other words, a portion of each of first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B may constitute a part of a volume of the corresponding one of first and second opposite ends 106A, 106B. As will be explained with reference to FIG. 2, the above-described volume sharing, or overlap between planar central portion 102 and first and second elongate side portions 104A, 104B may, in some cases, provide enhanced structural integrity, such as rigidity and increased torsional support, to clothing strap holder 100.

In the same example, planar central portion 102 may have one or more of the following geometries: (1) a substantially rectangular geometry; (2) a substantially triangular geometry; (3) a substantially circular geometry; (4) a substantially oval geometry; (5) a substantially 2-D decorative heart-shaped geometry; (6) a substantially 2-D multi-point star-shaped geometry; and (7) a substantially 2-D multi-point crown-shaped geometry. Moreover, also in this example, planar central portion 102 may further define or form a surface, such as, e.g., a substantially planar surface, that includes thereupon one or more of the following: (1) printed text; (2) printed one or more graphics; (3) embossed text; (4) embossed one or more graphics; and (5) one or more attached adhesive labels.

As illustrated by the examples provided above, clothing strap holder 100 of FIG. 1 may, in some cases, enable a user of clothing strap holder 100, such as a wearer of a clothing garment, to retain multiple clothing straps of the garment within close proximity to one another at a particular region along the straps. As a result, clothing strap holder 100 may provide the wearer with a better, more comfortable fit of the garment. Additionally, as also illustrated by the above-provided examples, by virtue of having a substantially equidimensional geometry, planar central portion 102 of clothing strap holder 100 may provide enhanced structural integrity and improved resistance to torsional forces to clothing strap holder 100, thereby preventing or reducing twisting, warping, or other distortions of clothing strap holder 100 during its use. As a result, clothing strap holder 100 may retain multiple straps of a clothing garment in the manner described above in a predictable and consistent manner, and the functional life of clothing strap holder 100 may be significantly extended. Furthermore, as also shown by the examples above, planar central portion 102 may further define, or form, a surface that may be suitable for printing, embossing, or attaching an adhesive label, thereby enabling the inclusion of text or graphical content on the surface for use in product marking, ornamental design, or advertisement associated with clothing strap holder 100. In this manner, the above-described features of clothing strap holder 100 of FIG. 1 provide several advantages and improvements over existing techniques and devices that relate to the retention of shoulder or similar straps of clothing garments.

In this manner, clothing strap holder 100 of FIG. 1 represents an example of a clothing strap holder that includes a planar central portion having a substantially equidimensional geometry, and first and second elongate side portions disposed at opposite ends of the planar central portion, wherein each of the first and second elongate side portions extends outwardly from the corresponding one of the opposite ends of the planar central portion, thereby defining two slots between the respective elongate side portion and the planar central portion, and wherein the planar central portion and the first and second elongate side portions are disposed substantially within a common plane.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram that illustrates a perspective view of clothing strap holder 100 of FIG. 1, consistent with the techniques of this disclosure. In a similar manner as described above with reference to FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. 2, clothing strap holder 200 of FIG. 2 includes a planar central portion 202, a first elongate side portion 204A, a second elongate side portion 204B, a first opposite end 206A of planar central portion 202, a second opposite end 206B of planar central portion 202, a first end portion 210A and a fourth end portion 210D of first elongate side portion 204A, and a second end portion 210B and a third end portion 210C of second elongate side portion 204B. As also shown in FIG. 2, clothing strap holder 200 further includes a first slot 208A and a fourth slot 208D formed by first elongate side portion 204A and planar central portion 202, and a second slot 208B and a third slot 208C formed by second elongate side portion 204B and planar central portion 202.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, planar central portion 202 of clothing strap holder 200 has a thickness 214 that is greater than a thickness 216A and a thickness 216B of first and second elongate side portions 204A, 204B, respectively. As a result, as shown in the example of FIG. 2, planar central portion 202, by virtue of having thickness 214 that is greater than thicknesses 216A, 216B, forms an elevated surface in the shape of the geometry of planar central portion 202 (in this example, a surface shaped like a decorative heart located on the top portion of planar central portion 202) relative to surfaces of first and second elongate side portions 204A, 204B (in this example, located on the top portion of each of first and second elongate side portions 204A, 204B). In other words, in the example of FIG. 2, the top surface of planar central portion 202 is misaligned, or “staggered,” with respect to the top surfaces of first and second elongate side portions 204A, 204B, so as to define or form a separate and distinct surface on planar central portion 202. In other examples, both the top surface and a bottom surface (not shown) of planar central portion 202 may be misaligned or staggered with respect to the top surfaces and bottom surfaces (also not shown) of first and second elongate side portions 204A, 204B, so as to define or form two separate and distinct surfaces on planar central portion 202 in a similar manner (e.g., first and second elongate side portions 204A, 204B may be disposed such that thicknesses 216A, 216B are substantially centered with respect to the range of thickness 214 of planar central portion 202).

Another consequence of planar central portion 202 having thickness 214 that is greater than thicknesses 216A, 216B, as also shown in the example of FIG. 2, is that any of first and second elongate side portions 204A, 204B may form at least a part of the corresponding one of first and second opposite ends 206A, 206B of planar central portion 202. For example, one or both of first and second elongate side portions 204A, 204B having relatively smaller thicknesses 216A, 216B may include portions that are wholly or partially encapsulated or surrounded by portions of the corresponding ones of first and second opposite ends 206A, 206B of planar central portion 202 having a relatively greater thickness 214. As a result, the amount of contact surface area that exists between these portions may be increased relative to, e.g., instances where planar central portion 202 and first and second elongate side portions 204A, 204B have substantially similar thicknesses and are attached or joined only along a particular edge or surface.

One advantage or benefit of the features of clothing strap holder 200 of FIG. 2 described above is enhanced structural integrity, such as relatively increased torsional support, that such an arrangement of planar central portion 202 and first and second elongate side portions 204A, 204B may provide to clothing strap holder 200. For instance, in cases where each of first and second elongate side portions 204A, 204B is a substantially planar elongate side portion having a thickness (e.g., 216A, 216B), and wherein a thickness of planar central portion 202 (e.g., 214) is greater than the thickness of each of first and second elongate side portions 204A, 204B, consistent with the example of FIG. 2, each of first and second elongate side portions 204A, 204B may form at least a part of the corresponding one of first and second opposite ends 206A, 206B of planar central portion 202. As a result, this arrangement may provide a substantial overlap in volume and increase in contact surface area among planar central portion 202 and first and second elongate side portions 204A, 204B, thus improving the strength of the bonds or joints between these portions and making the structure of clothing strap holder 200 more rigid and resistant to twisting, warping, or other distortional forces.

Another advantage or benefit of the above-described features of clothing strap holder 200 is that the resultant separate and distinct surface or surfaces of planar central portion 202 described above may be used for any of printing, embossing, and attaching an adhesive label to include any combination of text and graphical content in conjunction with clothing strap holder 200, as already explained above. As also previously described, such content may be used in any of product marking, ornamental design, and advertisement associated with clothing strap holder 200.

In other examples, however, the above-described surfaces of planar central portion 202 and first and second elongate side portions 204A, 204B may be aligned, rendering these portions substantially co-planar with respect to one another. In other words, in some examples, planar central portion 202 and first and second elongate side portions 204A, 204B may have substantially similar thicknesses.

In this manner, clothing strap holder 200 of FIG. 2 represents an example of a clothing strap holder that includes a planar central portion having a substantially equidimensional geometry, and first and second elongate side portions disposed at opposite ends of the planar central portion, wherein each of the first and second elongate side portions extends outwardly from the corresponding one of the opposite ends of the planar central portion, thereby defining two slots between the respective elongate side portion and the planar central portion, and wherein the planar central portion and the first and second elongate side portions are disposed substantially within a common plane.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram that illustrates another example of a clothing strap holder 300 that is similar to clothing strap holder 100 of FIG. 1 and that includes a planar central portion 302 having a 2-D decorative “heart-shaped” geometry, consistent with the techniques of this disclosure. As shown in FIGS. 3, clothing strap holder 300 includes planar central portion 302 having a substantially equidimensional geometry, as will be described in greater detail below, and first and second elongate side portions 304A, 304B disposed at (in this example, substantially tangentially with respect to and substantially centered about) first and second opposite ends 306A, 306B, respectively, of planar central portion 302. In the example of FIG. 3, each of first and second elongate side portions 304A, 304B extends outwardly (in this example, substantially vertically and in a substantially inwardly-curved manner) from the corresponding one of first and second opposite ends 306A, 306B, thereby defining the corresponding ones (i.e., two) of first, second, third, and fourth slots 308A-308D between the respective one of first and second elongate side portions 304A, 304B and planar central portion 302.

As further illustrated in FIG. 3, each of first and second elongate side portions 304A, 304B also includes the corresponding ones (i.e., two) of first, second, third, and fourth end portions 310A-310D, or simply “ends,” disposed at opposite ends of the respective one of first and second elongate side portions 304A, 304B. In this example, at least one of first, second, third, and fourth end portions 310A-310D of one of first and second elongate side portions 304A, 304B extends inwardly (in this example, by virtue of the corresponding one of first and second elongate side portions 304A, 304B extending substantially vertically and in a substantially inwardly-curved manner, as described above) toward another one of first, second, third, and fourth end portions 310A-310D of another one of first and second elongate side portions 304A, 304B. Specifically, in the example of FIG. 3, each of first, second, third, and fourth end portions 310A-310D extends inwardly toward another one of first, second, third, and fourth end portions 310A-310D.

As also shown in FIG. 3, at least one of first, second, third, and fourth end portions 310A-310D, or ends, of first and second elongate side portions 304A, 304B includes a terminal portion disposed thereon. In this example, each terminal portion has a width (in this example, a radial width, or a diameter) that is greater than a width of the corresponding one of first and second elongate side portions 304A, 304B. Specifically, in the example of FIG. 3, each of first, second, third, and fourth end portions 310A-310D includes such a terminal end portion.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, planar central portion 302 of clothing strap holder 300 has a substantially equidimensional geometry that resembles a 2-D decorative heart. In this example, the length of planar central portion 302 is defined by left and right lobes of the decorative heart extending in the horizontal dimension, and the width of planar central portion 302 is defined by top and bottom lobes and point of the decorative heart extending in the vertical dimension. As shown in FIG. 3, planar central portion 302 of clothing strap holder 300 has a substantially equidimensional geometry, as evidenced by the substantial similarity in size among the length and the width of planar central portion 302 described above. In other examples, planar central portion 302 may have another decorative heart-shaped geometry, or a similar geometry, that may include any number of lobes and points, in a similar manner as described above.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram that illustrates another example of a clothing strap holder 400 that includes a planar central portion 402 having a 2-D multi-point “star-shaped” geometry, consistent with the techniques of this disclosure. In a similar manner as described above with reference to FIG. 3, clothing strap holder 400 of FIG. 4 includes planar central portion 402 having a substantially equidimensional geometry, as will be described in greater detail below, and first and second elongate side portions 404A, 404B disposed at (in this example, proximate to one or more so-called “side” points of the multi-point star-shaped geometry that define) first and second opposite ends 406A, 406B, respectively, of planar central portion 402. In the example of FIG. 4, each of first and second elongate side portions 404A, 404B extends outwardly (in this example, substantially vertically and in a substantially inwardly-curved manner) from the corresponding one of first and second opposite ends 406A, 406B, thereby defining the corresponding ones (i.e., two) of first, second, third, and fourth slots 408A-408D between the respective one of first and second elongate side portions 404A, 404B and planar central portion 402.

As further illustrated in FIG. 4, each of first and second elongate side portions 404A, 404B also includes the corresponding ones (i.e., two) of first, second, third, and fourth end portions 410A-410D, or simply ends, disposed at opposite ends of the respective one of first and second elongate side portions 404A, 404B. In this example, at least one of first, second, third, and fourth end portions 410A-410D of one of first and second elongate side portions 404A, 404B extends inwardly (in this example, by virtue of the corresponding one of first and second elongate side portions 404A, 404B extending substantially vertically and in a substantially inwardly-curved manner, as described above) toward another one of first, second, third, and fourth end portions 410A-410D of another one of first and second elongate side portions 404A, 404B. Specifically, in the example of FIG. 4, each of first, second, third, and fourth end portions 410A-410D extends inwardly toward another one of first, second, third, and fourth end portions 410A-410D.

As also illustrated in FIG. 4, at least one of first, second, third, and fourth end portions 410A-410D, or ends, of first and second elongate side portions 404A, 404B includes a terminal portion disposed thereon. In this example, each terminal portion has a width (in this example, a radial width, or a diameter) that is greater than a width of the corresponding one of first and second elongate side portions 404A, 404B. Specifically, in the example of FIG. 4, each of first, second, third, and fourth end portions 410A-410D includes such a terminal end portion.

Unlike FIG. 3, as shown in FIG. 4, planar central portion 402 of clothing strap holder 400 has a substantially equidimensional geometry that resembles a 2-D five-point star. In this example, the length of planar central portion 402 is defined by left and right, or side points of the star extending in the horizontal dimension, and the width of planar central portion 402 is defined by top and bottom points of the star extending in the vertical dimension. As shown in FIG. 4, planar central portion 402 of clothing strap holder 400 has a substantially equidimensional geometry, as evidenced by the substantial similarity in size among the length and the width of planar central portion 402 described above. In other examples, planar central portion 402 may have another multi-point star-shaped geometry that may include any number of points, in a similar manner as described above.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram that illustrates another example of a clothing strap holder 500 that includes a planar central portion 502 having a 2-D multi-point “crown-shaped” geometry, consistent with the techniques of this disclosure. In a similar manner as described above with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, clothing strap holder 500 of FIG. 5 includes planar central portion 502 having a substantially equidimensional geometry, as will be described in greater detail below, and first and second elongate side portions 504A, 504B disposed at (in this example, substantially tangentially with respect to and substantially centered about) first and second opposite ends 506A, 506B, respectively, of planar central portion 502. In the example of FIG. 5, each of first and second elongate side portions 504A, 504B extends outwardly (in this example, substantially vertically and in a substantially inwardly-curved manner) from the corresponding one of first and second opposite ends 506A, 506B, thereby defining the corresponding ones (i.e., two) of first, second, third, and fourth slots 508A-508D between the respective one of first and second elongate side portions 504A, 504B and planar central portion 502.

As further depicted in FIG. 5, each of first and second elongate side portions 504A, 504B also includes the corresponding ones (i.e., two) of first, second, third, and fourth end portions 510A-510D, or simply ends, disposed at opposite ends of the respective one of first and second elongate side portions 504A, 504B. In this example, at least one of first, second, third, and fourth end portions 510A-510D of one of first and second elongate side portions 504A, 504B extends inwardly (in this example, by virtue of the corresponding one of first and second elongate side portions 504A, 504B extending substantially vertically and in a substantially inwardly-curved manner, as described above) toward another one of first, second, third, and fourth end portions 510A-510D of another one of first and second elongate side portions 504A, 504B. Specifically, in the example of FIG. 5, each of first, second, third, and fourth end portions 510A-510D extends inwardly toward another one of first, second, third, and fourth end portions 510A-510D.

As also illustrated in FIG. 5, at least one of first, second, third, and fourth end portions 510A-510D, or ends, of first and second elongate side portions 504A, 504B includes a terminal portion disposed thereon. In this example, each terminal portion has a width (in this example, a radial width, or a diameter) that is greater than a width of the corresponding one of first and second elongate side portions 504A, 504B. Specifically, in the example of FIG. 5, each of first, second, third, and fourth end portions 510A-510D includes such a terminal end portion.

In contrast to FIGS. 3 and 4, as shown in FIG. 5, planar central portion 502 of clothing strap holder 500 has a substantially equidimensional geometry that resembles a 2-D five-point crown. In this example, the length of planar central portion 502 is defined by a base of the crown extending in the horizontal dimension, and the width of planar central portion 502 is defined by one or more peaks, or points, of the crown extending in the vertical dimension. As shown in FIG. 5, planar central portion 502 of clothing strap holder 500 has a substantially equidimensional geometry, as evidenced by the substantial similarity in size among the length and the width of planar central portion 502 described above. In other examples, planar central portion 502 may have another multi-point crown-shaped geometry that may include any number of points, or peaks, in a similar manner as described above.

In this manner, clothing strap holders 300, 400, and 500 of FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, respectively, each represent an example of a clothing strap holder that includes a planar central portion having a substantially equidimensional geometry, and first and second elongate side portions disposed at opposite ends of the planar central portion, wherein each of the first and second elongate side portions extends outwardly from the corresponding one of the opposite ends of the planar central portion, thereby defining two slots between the respective elongate side portion and the planar central portion, and wherein the planar central portion and the first and second elongate side portions are disposed substantially within a common plane.

The techniques and devices according to the present disclosure may be implemented using a wide variety of manufacturing and processing techniques and materials, including any of injection molding, extrusion, milling, pressing, and machining techniques as applied to any of plastic, polymer, metal, metal alloy, glass, wood, and other substances and compounds, as well as using any number of other techniques and materials. As such, this disclosure contemplates any number of methods, devices, and materials that may be used in fabrication of the clothing strap holder in accordance with the techniques disclosed herein. Furthermore, various components, elements, and features of the clothing strap holder of this disclosure are described to emphasize their functional aspects only, and do not necessarily require realization or implementation by distinct or independent components, elements, or features. Instead, as explained above, the various components, elements, or features may be combined to define a single clothing strap holder, or be joined as a collection of interoperative elements, such as portions or so-called “modules,” of the clothing strap holder.

Various examples have been described in detail above. These as well as other examples are within the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A clothing strap holder comprising: a planar central portion having a substantially equidimensional geometry; and first and second elongate side portions disposed at opposite ends of the planar central portion, wherein each of the first and second elongate side portions extends outwardly from the corresponding one of the opposite ends of the planar central portion, thereby defining two slots between the respective elongate side portion and the planar central portion, and wherein a thickness of the planar central portion is greater than a thickness of each of the first and second elongate side portions, thereby forming a top surface of the planar central portion that is staggered with respect to and separate and distinct from top surfaces of the first and second elongate side portions.
 2. The clothing strap holder of claim 1, wherein the top surface of the planar central portion comprises an elevated surface in a shape of a geometry of the planar central portion relative to the top surfaces of the first and second elongate side portions.
 3. The clothing strap holder of claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the planar central portion is aligned with respect to bottom surfaces of the first and second elongate side portions.
 4. The clothing strap holder of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the planar central portion being greater than the thickness of each of the first and second elongate side portions further forms a bottom surface of the planar central portion that is staggered with respect to and separate and distinct from bottom surfaces of the first and second elongate side portions.
 5. The clothing strap holder of claim 4, wherein the planar central portion and the first and second elongate side portions are disposed such that a range of the thickness of each of the first and second elongate side portions is substantially centered with respect to a range of the thickness of the planar central portion.
 6. The clothing strap holder of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second elongate side portions is at least partially enclosed by and constitutes a part of a volume of the corresponding one of the opposite ends of the planar central portion.
 7. The clothing strap holder of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second elongate side portions comprises a substantially planar elongate side portion.
 8. The clothing strap holder of claim 1, wherein the planar central portion and the first and second elongate side portions are disposed substantially within a common plane.
 9. The clothing strap holder of claim 1, wherein one or more of the planar central portion and the first and second elongate side portions are disposed substantially within a different plane with respect to another one or more of the planar central portion and the first and second elongate side portions.
 10. The clothing strap holder of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second elongate side portions is substantially centered about the corresponding one of the opposite ends of the planar central portion.
 11. The clothing strap holder of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second elongate side portions comprises two end portions disposed at opposite ends of the respective elongate side portion, wherein an end portion of one of the first and second elongate side portions extends inwardly toward an end portion of another one of the first and second elongate side portions.
 12. The clothing strap holder of claim 1, further comprising a terminal portion disposed at each of one or more ends of the first and second elongate side portions, the terminal portion having a width that is greater than a width of the corresponding one of the first and second elongate side portions.
 13. The clothing strap holder of claim 1, wherein the planar central portion comprises a substantially rectangular geometry.
 14. The clothing strap holder of claim 1, wherein the planar central portion comprises a substantially triangular geometry.
 15. The clothing strap holder of claim 1, wherein the planar central portion comprises a substantially circular geometry.
 16. The clothing strap holder of claim 1, wherein the planar central portion comprises a substantially oval geometry.
 17. The clothing strap holder of claim 1, wherein the planar central portion comprises a substantially two-dimensional decorative heart-shaped geometry.
 18. The clothing strap holder of claim 1, wherein the planar central portion comprises a substantially two-dimensional multi-point star-shaped geometry.
 19. The clothing strap holder of claim 1, wherein the planar central portion comprises a substantially two-dimensional multi-point crown-shaped geometry.
 20. The clothing strap holder of claim 1, wherein the planar central portion forms a surface that includes thereupon one or more of the following: printed text; printed one or more graphics; embossed text; embossed one or more graphics; and one or more attached adhesive labels. 